Striking school bus drivers conducted information pickets at two Bowmanville schools this morning to provide information and engage directly with parents and students impacted by the work action.
“Parents and other community members are incredibly supportive when they hear that the drivers are on strike because First Student refuses to pay for all of the time spent driving the bus,” said Unifor Ontario Director Naureen Rizvi. “Many are shocked to learn that the person they entrust to transport their kids to school safely is expected to work for free.”
WINNIPEG—Unifor says that mass resignation of the Manitoba Hydro board of directors is another signal that Premier Brian Pallister cannot achieve results that benefit the province.
“The Premier is causing chaos in the management of public services and Crown corporations,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Front line public sector workers do great work for Manitobans, but we can’t say the same for Brian Pallister’s performance.”
After little progress with a conciliator, the Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions is proceeding with a province wide strike vote for health care workers.
The joint union bargaining committee, made up of members from four different unions including Unifor, NSGEU, CUPE, and NSNU, is frustrated with the slow pace of talks for acute care workers, after seven more days at the table with a conciliator. Talks initially began in October of 2016.
TORONTO – Unifor Local 4268 says school bus drivers at First Student Bowmanville have been forced out on strike as of at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday March 21.
"For some time now Unifor has led the discussion regarding the unfair treatment of workers who are tasked with carrying our children to and from school,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “To expect that people should only be paid while children are on board the bus is an absurd structure and we will fight to fix it."
Unifor says that mass resignation of the Manitoba Hydro board of directors is another signal that Premier Brian Pallister cannot achieve results that benefit the province.
“The Premier is causing chaos in the management of public services and Crown corporations,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Front line public sector workers do great work for Manitobans, but we can’t say the same for Brian Pallister’s performance.”
HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government has failed to re-invest in key priorities such as long-term care, where wait lists are long and previous cuts have reduced the quality of care. “Once again the McNeil government has let down Nova Scotia seniors, their families and the overworked long-term care providers with a failure to invest in the sector,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.
VANCOUVER—In a written submission to the Labour Relations Code Review in British Columbia, Unifor is recommending restoring balance and fairness to the laws governing how working people form unions.
To view this press release on the web please click here.
TORONTO – Unifor Local 4268 is negotiating with First Student Bowmanville as school bus drivers in the Durham and the Kawartha regions approach a strike deadline at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday March 21.
BOWMANVILLE – Unifor Local 4268 representing school bus drivers in Ontario has served First Student Bowmanville with a strike notice effective as of 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday March 21 2018.
OTTAWA - Unifor is calling on the federal government to intervene immediately to stop new anti-dumping duties imposed by the U.S. on pulp and paper mills in Newfoundland and British Columbia.
“Unfair tariffs aren’t just political theatre, they’re reckless policies that will close down mills and throw hundreds of Canadians out of work,” said Jerry Dias, National President. “This is completely unacceptable and Ottawa needs to push back hard against these heavy-handed tactics.”
Unifor is pleased to support the work of the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct to Prevent and Respond to Harassment, Discrimination, Bullying and Violence. We applaud the collaboration and leadership shown by ACTRA and others including our local Nabet 700M to create this new Code.
Unifor supports all efforts to create safe and respectful workplaces free of harassment including sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying and violence.
SAULT STE. MARIE – After an all-day hearing at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) there is still no decision on whether paramedics employed in the EMS division of Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services are in a legal strike position.
WINNIPEG—The 2018 Manitoba budget fails to address some of the province’s most urgent problems, especially in the north, says Unifor.
“Premier Brian Pallister is failing Manitoba’s most vulnerable,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “There is a stunning indifference to the struggles of Manitobans who are falling farther and farther behind.”
On behalf of school bus drivers Unifor continues to lobby the government to address the precariousness and poor working conditions that are rampant in the industry. As part of Ontario’s review of the student transportation system the union has submitted its concerns and recommendations in “A New Vision for Student Transportation”. Read the full submission here.
March 8, 2018 TORONTO – Unifor says the exclusion of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. is simply a stay of execution.“This isn’t a victory, it’s a threat,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “The U.S. is now holding tariffs over Canada’s head at the NAFTA table ahead of the next round, which uncoincidentally will take place in Washington.”
VICTORIA—Unifor activists will present policy proposals on workplace health and safety reforms, economic security for women, and progressive labour law amendments during meetings this week in Victoria.
“Last spring, British Columbians voted for change. There is no time to waste when it comes to making workplaces safer and restoring workers’ basic rights,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
MEXICO CITY –Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the private sector, says that President Trump has made it clear that Canada’s steel and aluminum industries are being held hostage to extort a NAFTA deal.
“Trump plainly stated that tariffs will only come off if Canada signs a NAFTA agreement to his liking,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “The question now is whether the Canadian government is going to submit to trade blackmail.”
TORONTO – Unifor says if Canada fails to obtain an exemption from unjust and punitive tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to U.S. then the Canadian government has no choice but to withdraw from NAFTA renegotiations.
“If America imposes duties on steel and aluminum and Canada doesn’t walk away from NAFTA immediately then make no mistake we will no longer be negotiating, we’ll be capitulating,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
March 1, 2018
HALIFAX – Unifor is urging all members of the Nova Scotia legislature to pass an NDP private member’s bill that will ensure paid leave for victims of domestic violence.
PORT ELGIN- Unifor, the union representing school bus drivers at First Student Canada in Owen Sound/Wiarton and Port Elgin/Kincardine has reached a tentative agreement with the company, averting a strike set to begin Thursday morning.
"This is good news for drivers, and good news for parents," said Debbie Montgomery, President of Unifor Local 4268. "Despite a difficult round of bargaining, the bargaining committees have secured a deal that improves wages and working conditions.”